EWG's Guide to Healthy Cleaning | SODIUM HYDROXIDE

EWG's Guide to
Healthy Cleaning

Discover EWG VERIFIED^®

GET UPDATES DONATE

HAZARD SCORE RANGE

HOW WE DETERMINE SCORES LEARN MORE ABOUT EWG VERIFIED®

HOME / INGREDIENTS / Sodium hydroxide

SODIUM HYDROXIDE

SEARCH PRODUCTS

Find Products With This Ingredient

COMMONLY FOUND IN

cleaner, all-purpose/multi-surface cleaner, unknown/other cleaner, glass/window cleaner, mold and mildew remover, indoor cleaner, bathroom, general cleaner, tub/tile/sink cleaner, grout cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, shower cleaner, soap scum remover drain opener, clog remover dish detergent or soap, baby bottle dish detergent or soap, dish washer dish detergent or soap, hand cleaner, carpet stain prevention/treatment, carpet cleaner, floor cleaner, wood (furniture/floor) cleaner, fabric/upholstery deodorizer, fabric/upholstery/carpet stain prevention/treatment, fabric/upholstery cleaner, kitchen, general cleaner, oven cleaner, granite/stone surfaces cleaner, degreaser, heavy duty cleaner, stovetop bleach, chlorine bleach, oxygen bleach, unknown laundry additive laundry additive, stain remover laundry detergent laundry detergent, delicate/hand-wash laundry detergent, he/high efficiency laundry detergent, with fabric softener laundry detergent, with fabric softener, he/high efficiency laundry, anti-static spray/wrinkle remover laundry, fabric softener cleaner, metal, stainless steel cleaner, barbeque/grill cleaner, mold and mildew remover, outdoor cleaner, outdoor stain remover and deodorizer, pet cleaner, toy cleaner, electronics cleaner, disinfectant air freshener cleaner, wood (furniture/floor) wax/polish, wood (furniture only) laundry detergent pods, powder dish detergent or soap, dish washer pods, powder products for babies cleaner, professional laundry detergent, cold water

SYNONYMS

CHEMBL2105794, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, 40% SOLUTION, CTK0H4682, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SOLID [UN1823] [CORROSIVE], Q102769, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, PELLETS, TRACE METALS GRADE 99.99%, J-005935, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SOLUTION [UN1824] [CORROSIVE], SODIUM HYDROXIDE, TECHNICAL, 30% SOLUTION IN WATER, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, 10.0N STANDARDIZED SOLUTION

RESTRICTED

EWG VERIFIED products cannot contain this ingredient without adequate substantiation.

Common Concerns

See how this product scores for common concerns.

LOW

Asthma / Respiratory
LOW

Skin Allergies & Irritation
LOW

Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
LOW

Cancer
LOW

Environment

Top Scoring Factors

Safer ingredient; Evidence of skin irritation/allergies/damage; respiratory effects; damage to vision

Ingredient concerns

CONCERNS

HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT ISSUE	Level of Concern	Source

Causes severe skin burns and eye damage Only in: Oven Cleaner; Drain Opener/Clog Remover; Hard Water Stain Remover; Toilet Cleaner; Stove Top Cleaner; Household Cleaners	high	EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
Causes skin corrosion Only in: Oven Cleaner; Drain Opener/Clog Remover; Stove Top Cleaner	moderate	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
Causes severe skin burns and eye damage Only in: Drain Opener/Clog Remover; Oven Cleaner; Hard Water Stain Remover; Toilet Cleaner; Stove Top Cleaner; Household Cleaners	some	EU GHS Hazard Labeling Codes: GHS Hazard Codes
Causes respiratory irritation	some	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
Causes skin irritation	some	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
Causes eye corrosion Only in: Drain Opener/Clog Remover; Oven Cleaner; Stove Top Cleaner	some	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
skin irritation	some	American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH): Threshold Limit Value (TLV) Basis
The Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel concludes this substance is safe for use when formulated to be non-irritating.	some	Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR): CIR Assessments
European Union Ecolabel program data shows this substance has moderate acute toxicity to aquatic life	low	EU Ecolabel: Detergents Ingredients Database
This substance is Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) as a food additive by the US Food and Drug Administration Only in: Household Cleaners	low	U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): FDA - Priority based Assessment of Food Additive (PAFA)
The international Organisation for Economoic Co-operation and Development reported that sodium hydroxide does not cause genetic toxicity in cells or lab animals.	low	Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. 2002. Sodium hydroxide CAS No. 1310-73-2. SIDS Initial Assessment Report for SIAM 14.
benign, health	low	Environmental Working Group. 2012. Established innocuous properties.
benign, environment	low	Environmental Working Group. 2012. Established innocuous properties.